The Buffalo Bills continued their methodical roster construction for the 2026 season on Thursday, announcing the signing of three veteran free agents. The team officially added center Lloyd Cushenberry III, wide receiver Trent Sherfield Sr., and versatile offensive lineman Austin Corbett, each agreeing to one-year contracts. The moves signal a continued emphasis by the front office on adding experienced depth and competition across the roster as the team prepares for the upcoming campaign.
Cushenberry Brings Stability to the Interior
The most significant addition among the trio is center Lloyd Cushenberry III, who arrives in Buffalo after a two-year tenure with the Tennessee Titans. During his time in Tennessee, Cushenberry established himself as a reliable anchor on the offensive line, starting every game he appeared in—a total of 23 contests—exclusively at the center position. His durability and consistency in the middle of the pocket are expected to provide valuable competition and insurance for the Bills’ interior line.
Cushenberry’s path to Buffalo began in Denver, where the Broncos selected him in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of LSU. He spent his first four professional seasons with the Broncos, quickly earning a starting role. Over that span, he started 57 games, demonstrating the kind of resilience and steady presence that general managers covet in a center. Now entering his seventh NFL season, Cushenberry offers a blend of playoff experience and positional stability that could prove crucial for a Bills team with perennial championship aspirations. His familiarity with a variety of blocking schemes, honed across multiple coaching staffs in Denver and Tennessee, should allow for a smooth transition into Buffalo’s offensive system.
Sherfield Returns for a Second Stint in Buffalo
The Bills also reunited with wide receiver Trent Sherfield Sr., a familiar face to the organization. Sherfield previously spent the 2023 season with Buffalo, where he carved out a role as a rotational pass-catcher and special teams contributor. During that initial stint, he hauled in 11 receptions for 86 yards and one touchdown, providing reliable depth behind the team’s top receivers.
Since his last departure from Buffalo, Sherfield’s journey has taken him across the league. He spent the 2025 season with the Denver Broncos, where he appeared in 10 games and made three starts, recording three catches for 21 yards. Later in the season, he also spent time on the practice squads of the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots.
Sherfield’s NFL career began in 2018 when he signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt. Over the years, he has developed a reputation as a hard-working, versatile wideout who contributes both on offense and special teams. His resume includes stops with the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, and Minnesota Vikings. Now returning to a system where he has already found a degree of comfort, Sherfield will look to carve out a role once again, bringing veteran leadership to a receiving corps that values depth and situational reliability.
Corbett Adds Versatility to the Offensive Front
The third signing of the day was offensive lineman Austin Corbett, who visited the Bills earlier in the week before finalizing his one-year agreement. Corbett arrives in Buffalo after spending the last four seasons with the Carolina Panthers, where he showcased his ability to play both center and guard.
Corbett’s time in Carolina was marked by a strong start and subsequent injury challenges. In his first season with the Panthers in 2022, he was a model of durability, starting all 17 games. However, over the following three seasons, injuries limited his availability, causing him to miss 29 of a possible 51 games. Despite the recent injury history, the Bills are banking on Corbett’s vast experience and positional flexibility to provide valuable depth along the offensive line.
Originally a second-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Nevada, Corbett appeared in 14 games for the Browns before being traded to the Los Angeles Rams during the 2019 season. It was with the Rams that Corbett truly found his footing, playing a key role on the offensive line that helped the team reach the Super Bowl. Over the course of his career, Corbett has appeared in 94 regular-season games and has made 78 starts, giving him a wealth of knowledge that he can impart to younger linemen in Buffalo’s locker room.
Strategic Depth Additions for the Long Haul
Taken together, the three signings represent a clear strategic approach by the Bills’ front office. Rather than pursuing high-profile, expensive free agents, the team has opted to add experienced veterans on affordable one-year deals. This approach allows the Bills to shore up their depth chart without compromising future salary cap flexibility—a crucial consideration for a team with several core players on long-term contracts.
Each of the three players fills a specific need. Cushenberry provides a proven option at center, a position critical to the success of any offense. His presence ensures that regardless of how the rest of the offensive line competition shakes out during training camp, the team will have a capable and experienced player snapping the ball. Sherfield adds known quantities on special teams and in the receiver rotation, giving offensive coordinator stability in the meeting room and on the practice field. Corbett, meanwhile, offers the ultimate insurance policy along the offensive line, capable of stepping in at multiple spots should injuries arise during the grueling 17-game season.
As the Bills continue to round out their 2026 roster, these signings highlight a commitment to building a deep, resilient squad. By adding players who have logged significant snaps in the NFL and understand the demands of a playoff chase, Buffalo is reinforcing the foundation of its roster. For Cushenberry, Sherfield, and Corbett, the one-year contracts represent an opportunity to prove their value in a winning environment, with the potential to earn longer-term roles beyond the upcoming season.
